1. Labor and the Birth of Unions

2. Definitions Labor- workers/employees Business- owners
Priority- lowest amount of work, most amount of pay
Business- owners
Priorities- lowest amount of pay, most amount of work
Interests are opposed to each other, but they are dependent on each other as well

3. Status of the Average Worker
Wages in America did not rise as quickly, relative to inflation, as they did in Europe
US economy more volatile- more boom and bust
Average worker was unemployed 3-4 months a years
Illness, bad weather, seasonal employment
$ a year- absolutely insufficient to raise family on
Children under 16 accounted for 20% of family income

4. Some boys and girls were so young they had to climb up onto the looms to mend broken threads

6. Group photo of some children working at Farrand Packing Co
Group photo of some children working at Farrand Packing Co. in Baltimore, Maryland

7. Sources of unrest
Before the civil war, most business were privately owned and operated.
With the advent of big business, skilled crafts men were made unnecessary by mechanization
Influx of immigrant workers made jobs scarce
New form of feudalism
Causing tension between the classes

8. Sources of Unrest cont.
Unions- group of workers organizing to defend their interests
Questions- should unions organize by industry or by level of skill
Skilled laborers/craftsmen were much harder to replace- aristocracy of labor
Governmental role
Who’s side will they take

9. The Great Railroad Strike
1877- first major railroad strike and first general strike in the nation’s history
Financial insecurity caused railroad companies across the country to significantly lower wages
Some cut the work week, others demanded more work from fewer employees
Employees protested violently, seizing control of railroad infrastructure and striking
Violence erupted as the companies resisted the strikers
Over a hundred killed across the country- violence centered in Maryland and Pennsylvania

10. Examples of the Conflict
Homestead Steel Strike
Andrew Carnegie’s steel mill in Pennsylvania
Attempt to cut wages led to protest
Closed the mill and hired guards to keep workers away
Violence ensued, union lost and alienated the public
Another 44 years before the steel industry had another successful union
Pullman Strike
Pullman luxury railcars- outside Chicago
Workers went on strike after attempt to cut wages
Strike spread to a national level- President Cleveland filed an injunction to force workers back
Violence followed- 25 dead 60 injured many arrested

11. Early Unions Knights of Labor- 1869 Haymarket Square Incident
Thought that all workers should join together to negotiate with big business, regardless of skill level or industry
Refused to strike but gained some significant ground
Wanted 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, equal pay for men and women, etc.
Haymarket Square Incident
May a bomb exploded during a worker rally in downtown Chicago
8 immigrants charged with the crime, although there was little evidence

12. American Federation of Labor
Samuel Gompers- first president of the AFL helped transform it into the first successful national labor union.
Believed in organizing labor by craft, not all laborers in an industry
Open and Closed Shops
Open Shop- employers could hire anyone- favored by employers
Closed Shop- employers hire only union members- favored by Gompers and the AFL
Initial success but began to disintegrate in the late 1890’s

13. Radicalism in the Labor Movement
International Workers of the World- “The Wobblies”
Founded by Eugene V. Debs- instigator in the Pullman strike
Socialist ideas-
Destroy the ruling class
Economy ruled by the workers
Heralded by many as against capitalism, and therefore anti American
Capitalism- system where trade and industry are owned by private individuals for profit
Socialism- trade and industry are owned by a collective group for the benefit of all

14. So who do you agree with?
Which side would you take, labor or business? Why?
Can you think of a solution to the conflict between these 2 groups?
Write your thoughts on your exit ticket slip